wood ants won't eat
Moderator: ooper01
wood ants won't eat
I have a small formica rufa colony or wood ants, they have about 8 workers and 1 queen. I have been feeding them honey, mealworms and crickets but the won't eat it and they barely come out of their test tubes. does any one else have any other suggestions.
- idahoantgirl
- Posts: 1521
- Joined: Sat Sep 12, 2015 11:52 am
- Location: Idaho, USA
Re: wood ants won't eat
if they don't eat, they are not hungry. They aren't going to be too picky. Young colonies go through phases of not eating much.
Proverbs 6:6-8
Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!
It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.
Keeping Tetramorium immigrans, Tapinoma Sessile
Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!
It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.
Keeping Tetramorium immigrans, Tapinoma Sessile
- Jadeninja9
- Posts: 732
- Joined: Tue Feb 14, 2017 9:00 pm
- Location: SF Bay Area, California
Re: wood ants won't eat
wouldn't it be because they would be hibernating in the wild at this time, thus not having an urge to eat right now.idahoantgirl wrote: ↑Sun Dec 10, 2017 9:05 pmif they don't eat, they are not hungry. They aren't going to be too picky. Young colonies go through phases of not eating much.
Keeper of:
1x Camponotus Hyatti
1x Lasius alienus colonies
1x Tetramorium immigrans
1x Camponotus Hyatti
1x Lasius alienus colonies
1x Tetramorium immigrans
- idahoantgirl
- Posts: 1521
- Joined: Sat Sep 12, 2015 11:52 am
- Location: Idaho, USA
Re: wood ants won't eat
Yes that is likely. Are you hibernating them? If they are supposed to hibernate then you should hibernate them. A cold garage, cold room, crawspace, fridge (if u make the fridge warmer than usual) will all work.Jadeninja9 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 10, 2017 11:52 pmwouldn't it be because they would be hibernating in the wild at this time, thus not having an urge to eat right now.idahoantgirl wrote: ↑Sun Dec 10, 2017 9:05 pmif they don't eat, they are not hungry. They aren't going to be too picky. Young colonies go through phases of not eating much.
Proverbs 6:6-8
Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!
It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.
Keeping Tetramorium immigrans, Tapinoma Sessile
Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!
It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.
Keeping Tetramorium immigrans, Tapinoma Sessile
- Batspiderfish
- Posts: 3315
- Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2016 3:47 pm
- Location: Maine
Re: wood ants won't eat
Formica rufa is not found in North America -- I would try to get the ants ID'd. Regardless, the ants should have been in hibernation a while ago, and that is probably why they are not eating.
If you enjoy my expertise and identifications, please do not put wild populations at risk of disease by releasing pet colonies. We are responsible to give our pets the best care we can manage for the rest of their lives.
Re: wood ants won't eat
thanks for all the help every one I will do my best to find a spot to hibernate them.
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